Even a test shot might reveal something interesting.
It’s fun going through some of my wintry images, as I’m working towards a bit more coherence within the set of images to ultimately become the core of my portfolio. As I was looking through some of my Iceland images from earlier this year, I flipped through the folder that holds my Aurora Borealis images and noticed a particular image…
Pre-Aurora Test Shot
As my friend, George Fellner, and I were setting up, I took a quick test shot to get a sense of the exposure values that we would need, as well as some idea about how I wanted to frame the landscape for the sequence coming up.
That’s where this image came in, and even though it’s rather grainy at 6400 ISO there is a certain amount of interest in it; at least for me, as I don’t normally get to see this many stars in the sky. Settings for this shot were 25 second exposure at f/2.8.
If you’re curious about the actual series of images, please take a look (and listen) here: Aurora Borealis on YouTube .
A Fresh Perspective
Photography is more than just a vehicle for capturing the world around me; it provides me with a palette and a set of brushes, with which I paint not only what I see, but also look to express the emotions that are evoked by the scene in front of me in that moment.
Growing up in the Netherlands exposed me to a wide cross-section of visual arts that laid the foundation of my photographic view of all that surrounds me. Early influences were the Dutch Masters of the 17th century, to whom I was introduced by my grandfather during museum explorations; favorites among them are the scenes of quotidian life depicted by Jan Steen and Frans Hals and the vivid landscapes of Jacob van Ruisdael.
My classical high school education was supplemented by the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum, where I spent many a lunch hour exploring its great collection. Here I was introduced to surrealism with a particular love for the approach taken by Salvador Dali; Dali also rekindled my appreciation for the work of Hieronymus Bosch, who often showed the folly of us mortals.
Universal Connections
My approach to any photographic subject is to look for understanding first; in this I look to establish either a connection between the viewer and the subject or capture the connection of the subject with its surroundings. The captured image then aims to portray this connection from a perspective that is part of my personal interpretation.
This interpretation is often a form of externalized introspection, which may alternately display the connection of isolated beings and items with their environment or highlight the whimsy of the profound world, in which we find ourselves. The universe is full of connections, many of which are waiting to be discovered; part of my journey as a photographer is to document these connections.
Any assignment, be it an event, a product shoot or a portrait session is always approached through communication with the client; this is where the first connection is established. Ideas are exchanged and a collaborative plan of action forms, ultimately resulting in a set of images that aim to exceed the expectations of each client.
And, lest we forget, it is important to have fun while practicing the serious business of photography!
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